New CSBC Partnership

 

The CSBC is pleased to announce that a three year joint promotion agreement has recently been signed with Stearns. Stearns is a leading flotation designer and manufacturer of personal flotation devices (PFDs), self-inflating PFDs and lifejackets in the world market. The CSBC is delighted that Stearns will be the Presenting Sponsor for various CSBC activities such as the Symposium, the Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs) and Cold Water Boot Camp. Stearns will also be the sponsor for the Rescue of the Year Award at the CASBAs.

CSBC Presents Canadian Safe Boating Awards for Outstanding Efforts on January 12, 2014

 

Across Canada, four individuals, five organizations and one municipality stand out for their efforts in 2013 in support of recreational boating safety and environmental stewardship. And now the Canadian Safe Boating Council has recognized them with awards for their heroism, dedication and outstanding accomplishments.

 

The Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs) are like the Golden Globe awards of safe boating. On January 12 the Canadian Safe Boating Council hosted the annual CASBA gala to recognize the efforts of the general public, volunteers, professionals, companies, agencies and organizations that have distinguished themselves in the fields of boating safety and environmental stewardship during the 2013 boating season. The winners were selected from a host of nominations received from the public at large, covering boating safety stories from British Columbia to Quebec.

 

Left to right: Luc Bemuy, Trisha Henderson, Cindy Toth, Vahé Vassilian, Ksyztoff Izakowski, Chris Mark, Marc Vassilian, Randy Johnson, Sandy Eaton, Ashley Lagg, Joseph Gatfield, Sean Stokes, Marie-Ève Gravel, Chris Cameron, 
Jean François Rioux, Ken MacDonald

 

The CASBA awards span a number of categories and the winners who displayed their dedication and heroism in 2013 are as follows:

 

Safeguarding the Environment- The Town of Oakville Ontario for achieving the prestigious Clean Marine 5 Diamond award for their ongoing work related to environmental sustainability in both the Oakville and Bronte Harbours.  

 

Marine Professional of the Year- Ken MacDonald of Midland, ON for career-long contributions to boating safety on and around Georgian Bay.

 

Visible Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Wear in Advertising- Yamaha Motor Canada for its continuing commitment to featuring lifejacket wear as a normal part of the boating tradition. Yamaha first won this award in 2007 and has continued to be a leader in promoting lifejacket wear.

 

Special Recognition Award- Canadian Tire Corporation for their support of the Canadian Safe Boating Council's 5 Key Messages during Safe Boating Awareness Week 2013 through their weekly flyers and nation-wide in-store signage.

 

Special Recognition Award- The Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons in recognition of 75 years dedicated to boating education and promoting safety on the water.

 

Ontario Power Generation Best Boating Safety Initiative - Aquanaute Training Centre, for their annual "Rendez-vous Nautique" event designed to embrace the fun and family lifestyle of boating,  They  also provide a perfect venue to promote safe and responsible boating.

 

Top Volunteer Dedicated to Safe Boating - Randy Johnson of Brantford, ON for his lifetime volunteer role with the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, the Pointe au Baril Islanders' Association and other organizations.

 

Best Media Contribution to Boating Safety-The Quebec Lifesaving Society for its National Drowning Prevention Week initiatives during the 2013 boating season.

 

Special Recognition Award- Robert (Bob) Eaton for his tireless efforts working with Canadian marinas to adopt environmentally friendly processes through the Clean Marine Program.

 

Stearns Rescue of the Year Award - Chris Cameron of Harbour Air for his rescue, from a float plane, of three canoeists in the glacial waters of Green Lake, near Whistler, BC on Canada Day 2013.

 

Sponsor support is critical to the successful execution of the CASBAs.  It is clear too that the organizations that get in behind to support this event understand just how important it is to recognize those who do so much to make recreational boating in Canada both safe and enjoyable.  For the 2013 CASBAs, we are so fortunate and grateful for the contribution of the following:

 

Presenting Sponsor: Stearns - a Division of Coleman Canada

Platinum Sponsor: Ontario Power Generation

Gold Sponsor: Cook-Rees Memorial Fund

Silver Sponsors: Boatsmart!, Canadian Recreation Products, Salus Marine Wear and Yamaha Motor Canada

Media Sponsors: Boatguide Canada, Boating Business, Boating Industry Canada, Canadian Yachting and Pacific Yachting

 

For the full News Release on the CASBAs, including the stories behind each of the winners honoured, go to www.csbc.ca

 

Are You Seeking an Opportunity for Career Development Training and Education?

The International Boating & Water Safety Summit (April 14-17) Offers This and More

 

The 18th Annual International Boating & Water Safety Summit (IBWSS) is the premier international event in the US for training, education, skills development and awareness for anyone involved in boating and water safety. This year, the event will be held in Nashville, Tennessee from April 14 -17 through the collaborative efforts of the National Water Safety Congress (NWSC) and the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC).  The IBWSS is partially funded through a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund administered by the United States Coast Guard (USCG).

 

The IBWSS will provide training and education opportunities which support the objectives and strategies of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program Strategic Plan 2012 - 2016. For more information on the Strategic Plan, visit USCGBoating.org. The IBWSS's presentation format will directly address the goal for participants to gain knowledge and skills that will be recognized as competency towards a recreational boating professional certification program.

 

The Audience: The goal of the IBWSS program is to provide information, resources, education and training to support professional and organizational development priorities to groups and individuals working in areas of recreational boating and water safety. The audience for the IBWSS will be comprised of various representatives from boating and water safety advocacy groups, including national and international government or non-government agencies; boating and water safety education organizations; community and university aquatic education programs and boating safety equipment manufacturers and suppliers.

 

The Program: The IBWSS program is designed to provide information on several levels to the attendees. General session topics are selected based on the information they provide to all participating in the IBWSS. Training, skills development and education session topics offer an opportunity for more detail in an effort to appeal to the special interests of the individuals attending the IBWSS. The on-the-water sessions provide an opportunity to both visualize and participate in current topics and trends that professionals may encounter in their day-to-day jobs, giving them an opportunity to utilize the knowledge in their own area of expertise. Classroom time has been reserved for Tuesday afternoon after the general session and all day Thursday. Wednesday will give attendees the chance to participate in on-the-water sessions and classroom sessions.

 

All presentations have been selected to directly address boating and water safety topics related to and in support of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program Strategic Plan 2012 - 2016. The presentations will focus on the recreational boating professional certification program in the following diverse subject areas: Leadership; Strategic Planning; Non-profit Deliverables; Administration; Management Skills; Best Management Practices; Public Policy; Coalition Building; Education; Outreach and Communications; Risk Management and Accident Prevention; Law Enforcement; Paddlesport Safety; Waterways Safety Management.

 

Every person learns differently. With that in mind, the IBWSS has provided different presentation formats, such as individual speakers or panels. Presentations may be from one to eight hours in length depending on the information being presented.  One example of this different time length would be a boating certification course presented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that would require an eight hour time period whereas a presentation on the Federal Requirements given by the U.S. Coast Guard may only require one hour. The IBWSS will provide the full schedule on its website, IBWSS.org, as well as a free downloadable mobile app well before the conference so attendees can plan their own personal schedules to maximize the benefit of attending the IBWSS.

 

The NWSC and the NSBC are excited to share the changes and updates we have made to this year's IBWSS in Nashville. Please visit IBWSS.org to learn more about this year's program and to register as an attendee, exhibitor, and/or sponsor. If you have specific questions, please reach out to the NWSC by email at direct@watersafetycongress.org or by phone at (502) 352-8771 and by fax at (502) 385-2339. The NSBC can be reached by email at office@safeboatingcouncil.org, by phone at (703) 361-4294 and by fax at (703) 361-5294. Organizers hope that participants will find the experience worthwhile and relatable to the great work happening across North American and internationally in helping to promote boating and water safety.